An Awful Experience at Clicks Linksfield Pharmacy

I visited the Clicks Pharmacy at the Linksfield Hostel to have a simple script filled. On arrival there were two pharmacists attending to customers. I arrived at 18:55 and took a seat on the bench. One pharmacist was assisting a customer and the 2nd was assisting two Netcare 911 ambulance personnel. In the latter case, I use the term "assisting" loosely as it was more of a social gathering. There was much conversation and laughter. I was finally attended to by the former mentioned pharmacist at 19:10 and the social interaction was going strong. I happened to peer across the counter and the medicine being dispensed appeared to be a number of OTC medications so clearly no emergency. At this stage, I had been joined a full bench of customers. When the ambulance personnel left, I confronted the pharmacist and told her (at first) politely that her behavior was unprofessional. This elicited a belligerent response that I was being rude and that "they are also my customers", to which I rep**** that that "we are ALL customers" and did not deserve to be treated this way. Her retort was "mind your own business". This sparked from me a more vociferous response that it was my business as it was all the customers' business since we were being inconvenienced. By this time a 3rd pharmacist had come forward and all three were dealing with customers very professionally I would suggest. It is clear to me why most people that I talk to prefer Dischem to Clicks. The service levels are streets ahead. I have previously had a similar experience at Clicks Melrose Arch, but it seems that the personnel have received customer service training as they now almost pass. That said, I will always prefer using a Dischem pharmacy to a Clicks pharmacy and my preference is regularly vindicated. An employee needs to know that he or she is the face of the company. Socialising with other staff or friends should take place outside of work hours and especially not when numerous customers are awaiting attention. Perhaps a simple apology or some form of acknowledgement from a clearly out of line employee that he or she has acted improperly would deal with the matter instead of the employee claiming the moral high ground and telling a customer to "mind your own business". I leave that decision to those responsible for training within the Clicks organisation. I will continue to make us of Clicks pharmacies when there is absolutely no other choice in the circumstances. And I will certainly avoid the Linksfield branch at all costs lest I interfere in the pharmacist's social time again. Post script: I doubled back to apologise to the other customers that witnessed the altercation, but interestingly enough, the only reactions I received were "you were right, but it isn't going to change things".